There was a new format and new venue for the Wellsford Santa Parade this year, with the event moving to a new off-road home at Centennial Park.
Crowds lined the park entrance, driveway and carpark to watch the floats, fire engines, classic cars and Santa himself parade past, led by the bagpipes and drums of the Warkworth & Wellsford Pipe Band.
There was also free Christmas card making, face painting, a bouncy castle, selfies with Santa and plenty of lollies for everyone.
In the past, the Santa Parade always passed along Wellsford’s main street, stopping the traffic on State Highway 1, but with the road getting ever busier, organisers decided to minimise disruption and move it elsewhere.
Last year, the parade joined forces with the Wellsford Country Show at Centennial Park, but organisers opted to go it alone this year after field drainage work forced the cancellation of the country show.
Wellsford Promotions president Stef Railey says the new venue is far safer for children and volunteers, and it means more add-on activities can take place at the same time.
“We were rapt with it, it was heaps of fun” she says. “There were not too many floats this year, but that will grow. We had lots of positive feedback and next year we’ll have more activities and even more fun.
I’d like to thank everyone who came along and made it a success.”
Wellsford Kindergarten took out first prize in their class and first prize overall; Wellsford Volunteer Fire Brigade won first and second prize in the community section; and Coconut Gallery came first for their float in the commercial class.
